Key bit



Patented Apr. 27, 1948 I UN l'IIED- STAT ES @riginal Vappliatic'm .January 35,1942; Serial` ANo. 425g952." Divided'and this"applicatinrllanuary, 15,1945; Serial No.' 572,901.'

12`C1LH1S. (GR70-409) .1 V 1 2 5 Nature and objects' designatedv I 88. @yerh'anging' vkey lugsr I 89 andi .4 ISill)'are-previdedj in 'connection with* theres'pec Th1sis-a1d1vs1ona1appllcatlon ci mycopendmg t 1. y f. l application on Unpickable-` lock,A ,led ..January 8,' Uve key notchesls 31nd" I EL' tom-t] 1m30. upper ecn-d 1942, seriarNo'. 425,952,1n0w abarwlcned.A notches 2.9' and 22`0f"the`ktey bm '38""and`it0' This inventionpertansto key btslused 'ncon-fl 5 engagedwltlflmlgs-' allai/lahm?" omthe' repectwe mention with detachablefbitkeys, .ml whieathe endsfojf' thym; .hese' notorias andmgs are combinatableportion.,ofeaidkey, caued akeybt, Frflably 99M mams Sectlowasbestshuw is separable from the rest of the key and adapted m'llngsl? s h. l b t p A to be attachedttheretoeanddisattachedvtherefrom 10, 'e y f1 lw mh??? asu st anma'uy feg" byxlatch meansw tangular A block; extends, 1n "uncemblnatedirforhxn` 'rheprinciparobject @mais invention, isctepm, to" dottfd" 11e"`,25and" hagan" @my Smm?" vide a 1unique detachable-bit .adapteareserve as adapted tPt `a%t"su1`fac?soas tojplgperly' mkg a yportion ofr a detachable-fmt. keytas requiredffor the. rettmns pf' me :Combmatlon"blttmg'moss: certain typesoflockgand 'particularly for .my un- Whch .11S prefeably a'pun'chmgfpmss; Wlthout; pckable 166k, asv Sett forth, in' my coendmg 15. producmgunduedistbrtion.` Oppositeethis'anvil" trated in the accompanying drawingszinl which: 20 tny.rectangulareshapeextending omette-)pledge Fig. 121s arvewfin.longitudinalvcentral section ggfandffiplendegioffthgkyfbit i355 taken. substantially; onI broken linesk l I -o :Fgse The. mp1.- edgegg :whichi ,is ;t1'e.. Abit-ted, @edge-:.05 2 'tose inclusvefshownga detachablezbt, ncon-` sady'ckytbit .,Comprises, Whe@ b't'tedf Series `ofi nection witha key, constructed inv-accordancey stepped portions 295 which may or maynotchaye. wlthmy invention, said1b1t beng^intts released 25 abrupt ortsquayelcomersandWhich'arofse'mdp 100811310 Ijeadyr'to be'detached'fmm the blafe'byviduauy distinctiveheightsane are lngitudiar-ly arcuate sldewise rmovement -of .the:bit=.relat1ve tc=` omet* ffonr. eachaotherwthe, proper ds'tamesbw theipladej l cause the steppedr'portinsofthekeyf-bt alway's Flgs" z ga'nd @amiransverse Seblonsw'kenion" to align themselves with respective locl-tmblers broken?` llnes :2-2, 3-3f,v and-:d-'respectlvely of* 30 Whmqbu.key-` incorporabmg: Said bm isamathe Flgjlcorrectlock'- operating positont'in a matinglck'? Fag;,5 showsfan' lsemetrlclvlewtof a-'comblnated The lugs 9, on the lobe end ofthe kwbt mem bt, berarepreferably-twain numberand areltrans- Flge showsan -lsometrlcivleW-oftheblade and` Versely. spaced apart t provided a. groovtlm hanfu 4 l 35Y therebetween thus forminga grc-ovedcendoff-the Flg.- '7 shows a sect1onal4 V1ew-of-1atch bolt el 94 lobswd tof. the .bfr the entrance Ofe aflockg, leady-fon assembly mteblade-l 80.- luge! 93 Zof `a'latch bolt-l I dsee Figi 1`, thatis em= Structural descrz'pt'ony bedded in the key bladeldofthe'-key means" The-keyCOmpl'SeS' afblade |3had/ingethe.usualr shown: Thelatchbolt fi dit has'two mclmedfporlobe or handle IBI on itsouten endfandvhavingtaf o tionsmwandlghat're gudd''lthekey blade' shouldered portion: AI 82` ewljacentthe handler, rThe s amfsuchla" mann?? 3.510 Calls? the latch'hotwo made portions, l su zanal s2 are adaptada@ :entera bmwed www the'fblt' when it 11S mfwed @Ward keyway Voa :locklandthe :shoulderedtportion 182i h-t1pends of the-keyblade-'and 101i;l and :to bei is adaptedl zto4abutagainsta.shmncerflmx thelck; ,V moved @Wwflm-the blt Whenltls -movedrtoward to position theykey longitudinally inthe.lock-and4 45' thellobe'end of thekeff n toprovide abstrong member. fol-.transmitting A COmPFeSSlOIlSlOImg IQlVHIaJlOOrev IS81ImQtr-1e4 toyqua key blade presses against -one js1de of a-latching Afnotch ldisprovided in the blade l'a short' Din l99vthat'el`gages With @flug 2M of theflatch distance forwardly of .the shouldered portion |82i bolt- |94; 'lhelothersidelothe` lug= 23liser1"` for engagement 'with'.key; retaining,` means "in at 50` gaged by -a latch-releasingpn Zdthat extends *to* 163k,- the forward"endofthekey'l Strand is adaptedfto The blade l8"has the' usual "side'fiutesor beengaged'r'andlactnatedby a-DITS', WhChimay grooves"liandon'eedge portonof-'said bladeis beta partoffalock; being securedI rigidly'in'theAA providedlr with two longitudinallyY spaced apart' endof "the keyway thereof-,i or-#Whichf mayf-other; notches 186 and l'l for the reception'othe btf'55 wise be held rigidly, and thus adalsvted5to-eco-` thereover to release the latch bolt |94, as shown Fig. 1.

The end of the key is crimped inward around bore |98 at 29| to prevent the removal of latch releasing pin 209. Said latch releasing pin 23B is rounded and shouldered at 282 so at to match the contour of the key point and said crimped portion 2M when the key is moved away from pin 9|.

A shallow groove 293 is provided in the bottom edge of the bit to receive the top edge of the latch bolt |94 and thereby cooperate with the locking lug |533 to lock the bit against transverse dis' placement.

When a key, equipped with a bit, is inserted in a lock provided with a pin 9|, the pin 9| will be moved relatively into the end of the key, as shown in Fig. 1, and the latch bolt |94 and lug |93 will likewise` be moved out of engagement with the groove 283 and lugs |S| respectively. When this occurs the bit will be released as respects the blade |38; and bit and blade can be moved sidewise and rotatively relative to each other. When the bit is locked to the blade the lugs |9| and |92 thereof are held beneath the overhanging lugs |39 and |90 of the blade that fit into upper end notches 29| and 292 o-f the key bit. The lug |93 is positioned in groove 205 between the lugs |9| and the upper edge of latch bolt |94 is positioned in the groove 293. This binds the bit firmly and immovably to the blade; and said bit willl not be normally detached from the blade at any time except when a pin 9| is inserted as shown Fig. l. Also said bit will be re-engaged with the blade as the key is being removed from the said pin 9 I When the bit is engaged with the blade the bottom edge of the bit will coincide with one of the longitudinal flutes |85 in the sides of the key andthe lines of the bit and blade will merge in such a manner that they will appear to be one piece and the fact that the key has a detachable bit will not ordinarily be noticed by persons looking at the key.

The combinatable portion 266 of the bit is thinner than the base portion thereof, as best shown in Fig. 2, to provide on the key bit, a shoulder 2M that is adapted to be engaged by an overhanging ledge in a lock.

The blade is provided with three bores 2i8, 2te and 2| and a groove 2|| adapted to accommodate latch bolt ISIl.

The said latch bolt is shown in Fig. '7, as it is originally made. After assembly, leg 2|2 is bent down at the narrow portion 2|3 as shown in Fig. 1 so as to provide tongue and groove engagement between latch bolt 94 and bit and blade throughout the full length of the bit.

The words edgef end and side as used to dene general surfaces of the key bit are used in the ordinary sense in which they would be used to treat the surfaces of a rectangular object, such as an ordinary book, that has two sides, of an area equal to the length multiplied by the width, bounded by two edges and two ends, the sides having the greatest surface area and the ends the least surface area of the six surfaces.

The ends and sides of an ordinary book are substantially flat, while the front edge is straight lengthwise but concave crosswise.

VThus the key bit whether combinated or plain; i. e., with or without the combinations cut therein, is book like and these common, ordinary terms may be applied thereto with the ordinary force and effect. y

The key bit has an anvil side adapted to t affiat surface so as to properly take the reaction of a key-hitting operation of a punching nature.

It is desirable that this be substantially flat particularly throughout the combinatable portion thereof to enable the key to be thus bitted without objectionable distortion. c

Going back to the simile of the book, the ordinary book has bead hinges that connect the side covers with the back edge and that are raised above the general flat surface of the cover. Thus Y the ordinary book does not fit the fiat table when laid upon it on its side cover. But, with that type of book that has ush beads, it can be properly said that such a book fits the at table, even if the name and certain designs, such as a monogram and border lines, are indented there- 'It is in this sense that I use the term ilt. Thus, in instances in which the major part of one side of the combinatable portion of the bit can be placed in substantial fitting proximity to a nat surface, such as that of an anvil or table, that extends beyond the said key bit in all directions in the plane of said anvil or table surfaces,'this relation is dened herein as to it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, Vthe combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to fit a dat surface, a bottom edge, adjacent said anvil side, that is substantially straight'throughout the length of said block, and a groove in said bottom edge adapted to cooperate with key means adapted to fit thereinto to detachably retain said key bit in said key. A

2. In a separable key bit consisting of afsubstantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to t a flat surface, a lobe end, adjacent said anvil side, that is substantially perpendicular with said anvil side, and a groove in said lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means adapted to fit thereint-o to detachably retain said key bit in said key.

3. In a separable key bit consisting of a-sub stantially rectangular block adapted to be' releasably attached to a key blade inthe formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to fit a flat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end substantially perpendicular with said anvil side and each other, and grooves in said bottom edge and side lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means adapted to t thereinto to detachably retain said key bit in said key.

4. In a. separable key bit consisting ofa substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached t-o a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combinationof Velements comprising an anvil side adapted to `fit a flat surface, a bottom edge, adjacent said anvil side, that is substantially straightlengthwise of said bottom edge, a lobe end, adjacent said anvil side and said bottom edge, a groove in said bottom edge and a groove in said lobe end running lengthwise of said respective bottom edge and lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means to detachably retain said keyrbit in said key means.

L. Inl.' a-l separable key-#bit i consisting f offa fsub'-` y stantially rectangular`V block adapted '-to be rel leasably1-attaohedtoya# key blade in the formation of a multiple-.element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil 'side adapted to ita flat :surface, a `bottom ledge. havinga groove therein, a lobe end having a groove formed between two` lugs -vthereonfa tip endl-having a lug thereon, said grooves and said lugs being adapted to cooperate with key meansfin said key bladesto AreleasablyLretai-rr said key bit rinsaid key-blade.

62T Irr-af'separable-key bitconsisting oi 'a-substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to rlt a flat surface, a thickness-relieved combination portion of said key bit occupying an upper portion of the key bit, a bottom edge and a lobe end having grooves, and lugs at both ends, said grooves and said lugs being adapted to cooperate with key means in said key blade to releasably retain said key bit in said key blade, and said combination portion being adapted to be variously notched from the top edge downward to produce any one of a group of permutatable combination settings.

7. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the forma tion of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to t a flat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end substantially perpendicular with said anvil side and each other, a tip end, opposite the lobe end, a top edge opposite the bottom edge, grooves in said bottom edge and said lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means to detachably retain said key bit in said key means, and a relieved side opposite to said anvil side being relieved in thickness to a substantially common depth throughout a substantially rectangular area beginning with the top edge and tip end and extending to within relatively short distances of said bottom edge and said lobe end.

8. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to t a flat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end substantially perpendicular with said anvil side and each other, a tip end, opposite the lobe end, a top edge opposite the bottom edge, grooves in said bottom edge and said lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means to detachably retain said key bit in said key means, a relieved side opposite to said anvil side being relieved in thickness to a substantially common depth throughout a substantially rectangular area beginning with the top edge and tip end and extending to within relatively short distances of said bottom edge and said lobe end, and a portion of said block adjacent the bottom edge extending lengthwise of the block beyond the longitudinal extension of said rectangular area to form a lug on an end adapted to cooperate with overhanging key means to releasably retain said key bit in said key means.

9. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to fit a ilat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end said bottomedgeand said lobe end adapted to` coi operatewith key-means to detachably retalnsaid key bitzin said'key, a relieved side-opposite to said anvil "sideflbeing relieved -in thicknessto a sub44` stantially common depth throughout asubstantially` rectanguar area `beginningwith' thef= top` edge and' tipe end A'and extending to within rela-- tiveylfshort` distances off said bottom edge` andh saidA lobeend'and a-notch in the block at the top of the lobe end adapted to nest a projection of the key means and thus cooperate with overhanging key means to releasably retain said key bit in said key means.

l0. In a separable key bit consisting of 'a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in `the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination ci elements comprising an anvil side adapted to fit a flat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end substantially perpendicular with said anvil side and each other, a tip end, opposite the lobe end, a top edge opposite the bottom edge, grooves in said bottom edge and said lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means to detachably retain said key bit in said key, a relieved side opposite to said anvil side being relieved in thickness to a substantially common thickness throughout a substantially rectangular area beginning with the top edge and tip end and extending to within relatively short distances of said bottom edge and said lobe end, and e, portion of said block adjacent the bottom edge extending lengthwise of the block beyond the longitudinal extension of said rectangular area to form lugs on the tip end and lobe end adapted to cooperate with overhanging key means to releasably retain said key bit in said key means.

l1. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation r of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements comprising an anvil side adapted to fit a dat surface, a bottom edge and a lobe end substantially perpendicular with said anvil side and each other, a tip end, opposite the lobe end, a top edge opposite the bottom edge, grooves in said bottom edge and said lobe end adapted to cooperate with key means to detachably retain said key bit in said key, a relieved side opposite to said anvil side being relieved in thickness to a substantially common thickness throughout a substantially rectangular area beginning with the top edge and tip end and extending to within relatively short distances of said bottom edge and said lobe end, and a portion of said block adjacent the bottom edge extending lengthwise of the block beyond the longitudinal extension of said rectangular area to form lugs on the tip end and the lobe end adapted to cooperate with overhanging key means to releasably retain said key bit in said key means, and a combinatable portion of the key bit consisting of the said rectangular area adapted to be cut away in part from the top edge to form the combination setting of the bit.

l2. In a separable key bit consisting of a substantially rectangular block adapted to receive combination b-ittings on one edge thereof and further adapted to be releasably attached to a key blade in the formation of a multiple-element key, the combination of elements Vcomprising an anvil side, a bottom edge comprising surfaces that are 8 the combinatable bit-receiving portion adapted to have the combination bitting thereof cut therein.

FRANK ELLISON BEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 947,913 Jenkins Feb. l, 1910 1,863,525 Long June 14, 1932 

